Hyssop, the Michelin-recommended Glossop pub loved by local foodies, has been forced to close its doors following a devastating fire that destroyed its entire top floor.
The fire was started by a tumble drier on Wednesday night and has completely decimated the restaurant, leading owners to describe the ordeal as ‘quite easily the worst day of our lives’.
Whilst no one was harmed and the staff all managed to escape unscathed, its owners were understandably heartbroken as they took to Instagram to explain that they would be closed for the forseaable future.
Sharing the news of the devastating fire on Hyssop’s social media channels, owners wrote: “We can’t figure out a way to start this post as it’s not something we ever thought we’d have to write.
“Yesterday was quite easily the worst day of our lives. Our whole top floor of the restaurant went up in flames and we’ve lost the lot.
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Video: High Peak TV
“Thankfully Paul and all of the staff managed to escape unharmed. No lives were lost and that is the most important thing.
“We are trying our best to contact all of our bookings and we are obviously trying to figure out the next stages.
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” Please bare with us, we are still trying to process what’s happened and along with trying to keep our business afloat financially, it’s going to be a long road ahead.
“Thank you for all of your kind messages. We have to get through this. Lots of love x”
Owners have now launched a Crowdfunder to help get them trading again, and thanks to the generosity of the pub’s foodie fans it’s already raised £5,000 at the time of writing.
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A picture of the pub before the devastating fire. / Image: Hysopp
A picture uploaded by owners to show the damage done to the inside by the fire. / Image: Hyssop
The appeal reads: “We are trying to raise some funds to enable us to make part of our space functionable in order to trade in some way, shape or form, in order to keep things ticking.
“We are so grateful for everybody’s kind words and offerings, we are completely overwhelmed. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
One of the very best chippies in Manchester is making it markets debut and we’re very happy about it. Hip Hop Chip Shop is serving up their perfectly fried, flaky fish and chips from £12 or £15 for a large but, to be honest, even the kids portion at £8 is well worth your money.
The only thing better than the ‘proper chippy chips’ here are the mustard and onion and a lovely chunky curry sauce. Having said that, we’ve now tired battered brussel sprouts (£6) for the very first time and we were very surprised about how much we liked them.
A vegan battered sausage and chips tray can always be snapped up at the same price point as the superb fish supper and they’ve even for beers starting at £5 and costing you no more than £7 for a posh pale ale.
The Flat Baker, Piccadilly Gardens
The Flat Baker are at The Winter Gardens in Manchester
At its main site in Ancoats, The Flat Baker always pulls in the queues, and its spot at the Manchester Christmas Markets is no different.
After last year’s runaway success, they’ve got a bigger unit and a proper queue system, bringing back hits like croissants served with warm dipping sauce (pistachio, dulce de leche, Nutella and Oreo, and Kinder) which are £7.50 each.
There’s also new items like a Brazilian mince roll ice cream (£6.50), and an indulgent hot chocolate served in a cookie cup (£7.90).
Oi Dumplings, Piccadilly Gardens
Oi Dumplings are back with a disco ball shed at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
One of our favourite restaurants and street food traders ever, the lovely Oi Dumplings are back at the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Head here for delicious, handmade steamed dumplings (£8 snack size, £12 meal size, £13 with rice) and the friendliest faces in town.
Fillings include pork cabbage and ginger, Chinese chicken curry, and vegan peanut, with sauces to go on top.
El Gato Negro, King Street
Meatball sandwich at El Gato NegroTapas and spanish sandwiches at the Christmas Markets
El Gato Negro has always found itself in the midst of the Manchester Christmas Markets, thanks to the fact its award-winning restaurant is slap-bang in the middle of King Street. So it was only a matter of time before they joined in with their own stall.
Now back for a second year, they have small tapas-style plates like chorizo in cider, lamb meatballs, and patatas bravas (all £6).
There are also fully loaded bravas topped with chorizo, cheese, sriracha mayo, crispy onions and aioli (£8), and meatball sandwiches (£8).
This legendary Spanish spot is even doing a mulled margarita (£6)
We ran faster than a Manchester run club the second this gorgeous food stall dedicated to all things crumble opened at the Christmas Markets because honestly is there anything more warming to the soul than a pot of home made crumble?
Choose your base – apple and cinnamon, winter berries, or chocolate caramel brownie, plus classic crumble or granola, then add on vanilla custard or whipped cream.
It’s £7, then for an extra quid you can add in toppings like toasted marshmallows, salted caramel, and pistachio sauce.
We couldn’t think of a better way to keep your hands warm as you browse the festive wooden huts.
Waffle Kart, King Street
Waffle Kart are back at the Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
Stop what you’re doing right now and look at the above food p*rn. Just look at it.
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‘What if KFC and a Chinese restaurant made a baby?’, they ask on their blackboard above the door – if this is the result, we’re all for it.
Tender buttermilk chicken with an outrageously crunchy batter is served alongside fluffy waffles, with pickles and maple syrup for drizzling (£13.95); or you could get the prawn toast waffles (12.50), an unconventional twist on a family recipe. It’s all great.
Cheezy Bandits, King Street
There is never a season I don’t want to eat a big pot of melted cheese and carbs – and if you whack a bit of cranberry sauce on top too I’ll be there faster than Santa down a chimney.
Cheezy Bandits has a full menu of mac n cheese (£8), with toppings including Buffalo fried chicken and blue cheese sauce; bourbon BBQ pulled pork; and a ‘Festive Pig’ with maple glazed pigs in blankets, sage and onion stuffing and cranberry sauce (all £11).
You’ll find them tucked in amongst the festive scenes on King Street.
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La Bavette, New Cathedral Street
You just can’t go wrong with steak, can you? Treat yourself to a seasonal steak sandwich stuffed with rocket, mustard mayo and topped with crispy onions for a a tenner – or, go one even better like we did and get a helping of freshly carved, melted Raclette cheese on top for an extra £4.
They do healthily portioned plates of steak frites too, which we topped with peppercorn sauce for an extra couple quid and it definitely levelled up the already well-seasoned carbs and the protein too.
Steaks are served medium rare as standard but you can ask for less/more cooking time if you like.
Yard & Coop, St Ann’s Square
Yard and Coop at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc GroupYard and Coop at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
If you don’t yet know of Yard & Coop – where the hell have you been, loca?
This Northern Quarter institution is back at the Manchester Christmas Markets with a menu full of its usual comfort food with a festive twist.
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There are huge trays of loaded fries, like the salt n pepper tray or the Dirty Santa (£11), plus chicken in a waffle cone (£7) and the Buff Daddy burger (13).
BangGa BangGa, Piccadilly Gardens
Another insanely viral hit from a couple of years ago, and familiar face from the Piccadilly Street Food Markets, here you’ll find Korean hot dogs with so much mozzarella stretch you need two people to reach breaking point.
There are a few combinations of hot dog, potato, and cheese, with the option to roll them in a delicious salt and sugar blend before topping them with gochujang and mayo or whatever sauces you fancy (between £5.50 and £10.20).
There are also super spicy ‘Tteokbokki’ rice cakes (£5).
Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 prices – how much is food and drink this year?
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Christmas Markets are back for 2024 and I know the question on all your lips is about prices – ‘how much is this all going to cost me’?
The huge festive celebration is one of the city’s biggest visitor attractions, luring in around nine million visitors each year.
Manchester city centre is filled to bursting with pretty wooden huts, twinkling lights, and cosy bars, serving and selling gifts, bratwurst, mulled wine and loads more.
There are plenty of familiar independent traders from around town joining in with the event, including Flat Baker, Oi Dumplings, and The Hip Hop Chip Shop, as well as more traditional European stalls.
With 240 stalls to explore across nine different locations, it’s a huge endeavour to get round it all.
But – as with everything these days – prices at the Manchester Christmas Markets have steadily crept up in recent years, so what is everything going to cost you in 2024?
We have the answers.
Average food and drink prices at the Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
Mulled wine – £5.50 (plus £3 for a shot of spirits)
Lager – £6
Prosecco – £6.50
Bratwurst – £8
Yorkshire pudding wrap – £10
Hot chocolate – £3.50
How much is a mug deposit at the Manchester Christmas Markets this year?
To have a drink at the Manchester Christmas Markets you first need to purchase a special mug.
Every year the council releases a special design for your markets bevvies – this year’s features festive cartoon characters.
These cost £3.50, which you can have refunded when you take them back to a bar – or you can keep it as a souvenir.
That means that when you get a mulled wine (£5.50) with a shot of rum or brandy (£3), plus the mug itself (£3.50), you’ll be dropping £12 on the spot. But you can get a bit of that back later.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 prices by area
The Winter Gardens at Piccadilly Gardens
Manchester Christmas Markers 2024 – Winter Gardens at Piccadilly Gardens
Georgina Pellant -
16th September 2022 
